With the new semester of most Thai schools starting on Tuesday, pawnshops across the country have prepared extra money to cater to the increased need of customers seeking cash in exchange for valuables to pay their children’s tuition fees and other related expenses.

Police have arrested a gold shop owner in Khon Kaen's Kuchinarai district along with 246 guns which he allegedly had in his possession without permission, Provincial Police Region 4 chief Pol Lt-General Surachai said on Friday.

Two official pawn shops in Phitsanulok have prepared Bt100 million of cash for the heavy traffic before the opening of the new school semester. This is on top of Bt80 million allocated in the same period last year.